Toronto Chinatown Lunar New Year Celebrations

The Toronto Chinatown Lunar New Year Celebrations bring two days of drums and dancing lions to Spadina Avenue in downtown Toronto. If you have ever wanted to watch bad luck get chased out of a neighborhood, this is your chance. The 2027 dates haven’t been announced yet; in 2026 it ran Saturday and Sunday, February 21 and 22.

What to expect

The highlight is a traditional outdoor lion dance meant to chase away bad luck, staged around Spadina Ave and Dundas St W. Indoor activities happen at Dragon City Mall and Chinatown Centre, which is handy on a cold day.

The 2025 program mixed lion dances with kung fu, magic, Sichuan face-changing shows (a fast mask-switching stage art), live music and craft vendors. In 2026, free gifts were handed out first come, first served.

Good to know

• Last held: Saturday and Sunday, February 21 and 22, 2026, starting at noon
• Admission: free
• Venues: Dragon City Mall, 280 Spadina Ave, and Chinatown Centre, 222 Spadina Ave, Toronto, ON
• Organizer: Toronto Chinatown BIA
• Transit: TTC Line 1 or 2 to Spadina Station, then the southbound 510 Spadina streetcar to Nassau St (Dragon City Mall) or Sullivan St (Chinatown Centre); or the westbound 501 Queen streetcar to Spadina Ave and walk north

Frequently Asked Questions

When are the Toronto Chinatown Lunar New Year Celebrations in 2027?

Dates for 2027 are not out yet. The celebration last ran February 21 and 22, 2026, and before that on February 1 and 2, 2025, both close to Lunar New Year.

Are the Toronto Chinatown Lunar New Year Celebrations free?

Yes. Admission was free in 2026, and free gifts were handed out on a first-come, first-served basis.

What happens at the Toronto Chinatown Lunar New Year Celebrations?

Expect an outdoor lion dance to chase away bad luck, plus indoor activities at Dragon City Mall and Chinatown Centre. Past years added kung fu, magic, face-changing shows, music and craft vendors.

Source: TTC – Take the TTC to Lunar New Year events across the city (2026), NOW Toronto – Free Lunar New Year celebrations across the Toronto area (Feb 7, 2026)

How Do I Get to Dragon City Mall and Chinatown Centre?

Dragon City Mall and Chinatown Centre is at 280 Spadina Ave (Dragon City Mall); 222 Spadina Ave (Chinatown Centre), Toronto, ON. Transit: TTC Line 1 or 2 to Spadina Station, then the southbound 510 Spadina streetcar to Nassau St (Dragon City Mall) or Sullivan St (Chinatown Centre); or the westbound 501 Queen streetcar to Spadina Ave and walk north (per TTC). Use the directions and parking links on this page to plan your trip from where you are.